Wiltshire Police taking part in ninja sword surrender scheme

Wiltshire Police are taking part in a surrender and compensation scheme for ninja swords being launched by the Government this week.

From tomorrow (01/07), you will be able to take certain bladed articles into a designated police station in return for an application to claim compensation.

This is in preparation for new legislation coming into force from August 1 which will make it illegal to own ‘ninja swords’ in an initiative to take these dangerous weapons off our streets.

Eligible weapons can be handed in at either in Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Salisbury and Trowbridge police stations.

The full criteria and guidance covering what bladed articles will be made illegal and are eligible for compensation can be found here.

A short summary of what is eligible and how to surrender them can be found here.

To safely surrender these items, they must:

• Be made safe to handle for yourself and for the police, and be contained in a manner that allows them to be transported without causing distress or alarm to other members of the public;
• Be wrapped up and placed in a sealed bag or box. They must not be carried openly at any time;
• Not be taken out at the police station until you are requested to do so by a police officer or member of police staff.

The locations and opening times of the five designated stations can be found here.

It will be illegal to own a ninja sword after 1 August 2025 unless a specific legal defence applies.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “There is absolutely no practical reason for anyone to be in possession of a ninja sword in everyday life, and I fully support this new surrender and compensation scheme as a proactive step to reduce the availability of dangerous weapons ahead of the upcoming legislation.

“Wiltshire continues to have some of the lowest knife crime rates in the country, however even a single incident involving a bladed weapon can have devastating consequences for victims, families, and communities.

“My office remains committed to working with partners across education, enforcement, and prevention to make it clear that carrying any kind of bladed weapon—whether it’s a so-called ninja sword or any other type—puts lives at risk and carries serious legal consequences.”

T/ Superintendent Paul Saunders said: “This legislation is welcome to allow us to tackle dangerous and impractical weapons, such as ninja swords. These weapons, often glamorised in popular culture, serve no legitimate purpose in our communities and pose a clear risk to public safety.

“From August 1, officers will have enhanced powers to seize such weapons wherever they are found, including in private homes, and individuals found in possession—regardless of intent—may face prosecution and a custodial sentence of over two years.

“The government has also introduced a compensation and surrender scheme for those who lawfully acquired these weapons prior to the changes. Full details, including eligibility and compensation amounts, are available via the official government website.

“It is imperative that individuals follow the prescribed surrender procedures carefully. All weapons must be securely contained during transport and must not be displayed at any time, except when specifically requested by a police officer or member of police staff. These measures are in place to ensure the safety of all parties involved.

“I strongly encourage anyone in possession of a prohibited weapon, including ninja swords, to act responsibly and take this opportunity to surrender them through the proper channels.”

If you have a bladed article which doesn’t meet the criteria, but you’d like to safely surrender at any time of the year, please remember we have several surrender bins at the following locations:

• Wiltshire Football Association Headquarters, Devizes
• Broadgreen Community Centre, Swindon
• Liden Library, Swindon
• Pinehurst Community Centre, Swindon
• Walcot Dome, Swindon
• Meadowcroft Playing Fields, Swindon

There are also three bins provided by the charity Owen’s World which are situated in:

• New College - Queen's Drive, Swindon
• New College - North Star Campus, Swindon
• John Moulton Hall, Swindon

Published Monday 30 June 2025